Spa break and celeb spotting

It may seem a little like it's one long round of holidays for me at the moment, which is not completely untrue - I'm a lucky girl. But the fact of the matter is that work, www.vintagebrighton.com and various freelance projects have kept me so busy in between that there's no time left to blog about things other than that which merely require a quick download of mobile photos.

So this most recent batch is from Baliffscourt Hotel & Spa in Climping, West Sussex - a stunning countryside location complete with peacocks and next to a quiet beach. While the old building looks medieval, it was actually built in the 1920s for Lord Moyne of the Guinness brewing family, whose wife loved the style, and the low ceilings, wooden beams and mullioned windows quickly help transport you to a place far removed from the everyday.

An hour after a friend and I drove into the country for a night's stay at the luxury spot on a Friday afternoon, I couldn't have felt further away from work, and with little phone signal it was the perfect place to switch off.  We were also blessed with the best weather in months, meaning that the full facilities were taken advantage of - outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi included.

Use of the spa, a massage, three-course dinner at the Michelin-rated restaurant, one night's stay in a four-poster bed and cooked breakfast was all just £200 thanks to a deal from Spa Break Direct. In that price we were also treated to some celebrity spotting, and I'm not talking about my usual Adrian-Chiles-in-Debenhams-type boasts. Universal Studios were holding press calls at nearby Arundel Castle for Kristen Stewart's new film Snow White and the Huntsman, so we were prepped for stars. But that didn't make us anymore cool and collected when K-Stew herself walked into the bar before dinner, with who else but Robert Pattinson!

When another rather handsome man smiled at us in the corridor it took me a few minutes to work out that it was Sam Clafin, who recently starred as Jack in the BBC's White Heat, and plays Prince William in the upcoming film. Very good-looking in real life, and with a cheeky glint in his eye.

Extra special times. I'd recommend the Hotel & Spa to anyone, even without the promise of celebrity appearances...